Fraz, Michigan, 1969. No. 2: Platoon Medic In The Bush

I had applied for and was granted a classification 1-A-0 which was a concientious objector opposed to taking human life, but not opposed to a Nation’s right to raise up an Army. Three funny things happened: the Marines wanted me, but they couldn’t accept a...

Rhodes, Florida, 1970. No. 42: Not Supposed To Happen

Although I had had some ROTC experience, I was not enamored with going to Viet Nam. OCS was closed when I graduated in June of 1970, so I enlisted, in an attempt to obtain an MOS that was non-combat related. I went into the Quartermaster Corps after completing basic...

Erm, Alabama, 1969. No. 68: Guaranteed To Be Picked

Scary times… My wife was 4 months pregnant (the exemption for children had recently been discontinued) and I had just drawn a guaranteed-to-get- picked number. I was to graduate in May of 1970. Before I finished up at NCSU I was called up for...

Jerry, North Carolina, 1969. No. 241: A Brother's Sacrifice

My lottery number was low enough for me to get a letter from the Draft Board to report for a physical. I was a student at NC State, married with one child and one on the way.  I wasn’t particulary fond of being drafted but I wasn’t going to...

David, Nevada, 1969. No. 107: On The Button

I was a UCLA student during the first lottery in 1969.  When it occurred, my birthday came up 107 and I was I-A as student deferments had been dispensed with.  At that time, we heard the government was going to take all numbers up to 195 so I...